INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Belarus has introduced the death penalty for attempts to carry out acts of terrorism, Russian news agencies reported Wednesday, charges that
portal for legal information.It said the law would come into force 10 days after its publication.Two years ago, Belarus faced historic
protests against the re-election of strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country with an iron fist for over two
"preparing acts of terrorism as part of an organized group," according to Belarusian state news agency Belta.Tikhanovskaya denounced
Wednesday the decision of the "lawless regime" to expand the use of the death penalty, saying it targeted anti-government activists."This is
sanction lawmakers and consider any tools to prevent the political killings," she added.Belarus and its leadership are already under a
litany of Western sanctions over its handling of the opposition protest and over its support for Moscow's campaign in Ukraine.But many
opposition activists remain behind bars in Belarus awaiting trial.On Wednesday, a Belarusian court in the city of Grodno started a
closed-door hearing in the case against 12 activists accused of "preparing acts of terrorism," according to Belarusian rights group
The 59-year-old faces a litany of other charges, including treason.The activists are accused of setting a policeman's home and car on fire,
be halted while it examined his allegations of torture in detention but said in a statement in March that his family had been informed it
had taken place, without any information about when he was executed.Pavlov was the 15th person executed in Belarus since 2010 while their
case was still pending before the committee, it said.
